“Apple, the Recognized Healthy Fruit: Is the Wax on It Safe to Consume?”
Apples are widely recognized as a healthy fruit, but the skins of apples are covered in wax, including natural wax and artificially added edible wax. Some people worry that consuming this wax could be harmful to the body, leading them to either peel their apples before eating or avoid apples altogether, missing out on the opportunity to receive the abundant nutrients from this fruit. So, is the wax on apples safe? What happens if you consume too much of it?
According to a report by the Huffington Post, apples and other agricultural products naturally form a thin layer of wax on their surface, commonly referred to as fruit wax. This wax layer helps fruits retain moisture and resist microbes. However, during the commercial cleaning and processing of apples after harvesting, most of the natural wax is removed.
Therefore, apple producers worldwide apply edible wax to the apples. While this wax can make apples look shiny and attractive, its main purpose is to replace the natural wax lost during processing.
Carla L. Schwan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Food Safety Extension Specialist at the University of Georgia, stated, “Waxing is a quality assurance procedure rather than a food safety concern.” This thin layer of edible wax helps apples retain moisture during storage and transportation.
Schwan explained that waxing is crucial because apples are often stored for several months under refrigeration. Without waxing, apples would lose moisture more quickly, become wrinkled and soften, thus compromising their quality. Without waxing, over a third of apples would spoil before reaching retailers.
Since waxing is an essential step in preserving apples, consumers may wonder if this wax is safe to consume.
The U.S. Apple Association mentioned on their website that vegetables and fruits contain 80% to 95% water. Because they are living organisms, they continuously lose moisture through respiration and evaporation. Waxing vegetables and fruits is necessary to prevent dehydration and nutrient loss.
Waxing vegetables and fruits has been practiced since 1924, totaling over 100 years. Early studies showed that waxing apples indeed slows down moisture loss and maintains crispness. Recent research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture demonstrated that unwaxed apples soften much faster at room temperature compared to waxed apples.
These waxes are made from natural and food-grade ingredients and are certified as safe for consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ingredients include carnauba wax derived from palm leaves, candelilla wax sourced from desert plants, and less than 2% of food-grade shellac.
Although some may be concerned about shellac, an unfamiliar ingredient, a report by the European Commission in 2025 stated that using shellac as a fruit coating would not have negative effects on human health.
If you are still skeptical about waxing on apples, an explanation from California physician Alex McDonald may reassure you – typically, only about a drop of wax is used per apple. He emphasized that even consuming large quantities of waxed apples does not alter their safety.
McDonald stated, “There is currently no evidence regarding the harmful dosage of ingesting fruit surface edible wax. Whether you eat one or ten apples, there is no substantial difference in the safety of the wax because the wax layer constitutes a small proportion of the entire fruit and is non-toxic.”
Your body does not absorb these waxes even if consumed. McDonald explained, “This wax is not absorbed but passes through the digestive tract and is excreted through feces.”
Moreover, spending a significant amount of time removing wax from the apple surface or avoiding them altogether could result in missing out on the nutritional benefits of apples.
Since many people’s diets lack fruits and fiber, McDonald recommended consuming more apples as a good way to obtain additional fiber and nutrients to maintain health. After all, there is a saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
It is worth noting that although some may dislike the wax on apple skins, the nutritional content of apple skins is actually richer than the flesh. In addition to polyphenols with various benefits such as lowering cholesterol, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties, apple skins also contain other nutrients including catechins, anthocyanins, flavonoids, abundant dietary fiber, iron, potassium, and vitamins A, C, E, K, making it a waste to discard them.
However, individuals with sensitive stomachs may prefer to peel apples before consumption, as apple skins contain high fiber content and may be less easily digestible.